Established in 1875, Knoxville College is one of Tennessee’s oldest historically Black colleges and universities and remains a vital institution for higher education among African Americans in East Tennessee. Founded by the United Presbyterian Church of North America to serve freed men and women, it opened as a normal school for training teachers before becoming a full college two years later. The college occupies a 39-acre campus in Knoxville’s Mechanicsville neighborhood. Many of its early structures were built by students, using bricks they made themselves. Over the years, the campus became not only an educational site but also a hub…
Author: VS Santoni
A seven-foot bronze statue honoring music icon Tina Turner is set to be installed in Heritage Park in Brownsville, Tennessee, as the city continues to celebrate the legacy of one of its most famous daughters. Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock in nearby Nutbush, spent her early years in Haywood County before rising to global stardom. Her 1973 hit Nutbush City Limits was a tribute to her rural roots. Over the decades, she became known as the “Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll” with hits such as Proud Mary, Private Dancer, and What’s Love Got to Do With It. She earned 12…
As the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term, significant cases are poised to shape the legal landscape, particularly in Tennessee, where a ban on sex-transition treatments for minors has garnered national attention. With the presidential election looming in November, the implications of these rulings may reach far beyond state borders, affecting the broader discourse on LGBTQ rights and health care access across the country. The case, U.S. v. Skrmetti, challenges Tennessee’s law that prohibits health care providers from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone treatments to minors experiencing gender dysphoria. This law, enacted in March 2023, has faced scrutiny for…